Apparatus and method for guiding line

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and a method for guiding or allowing movement of a line as the line travels along or with respect to a shaft, such as an arrow shaft or any other suitable similar shaft. A slide is movably mounted on an outer surface of the shaft. A body of the slide has a bore, such as a through-bore, to which the line can secured and thus travel, such as when discharging an arrow from an archery bow. A stop can be secured to the shaft and form a projection that can be used to prevent the slide from dismounting from the shaft.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an apparatus and a method for guiding a line along or allowing the line to travel or move with respect to a shaft, such as an arrow shaft or a crossbow bolt shaft.

Discussion of Related Art

Some conventional attachments for arrows help to prevent a line, such as a bow-fishing line, from tangling with a bowstring as the bowstring is released and an arrow is discharged from an archery bow. A slide and a stop device is known from and taught by U.S. Pat. No. 6,517,453, the teachings and the entire disclosure of which are incorporated into this specification by reference thereto. This particular attachment includes the bow-fishing line tied to the slide which stays in front of the hand of an archer and stays in the arrow rest during drawback of the bowstring. After the arrow is released, the slide moves back to the stop which is located close to the rearward end of the arrow. The stop is designed to not touch the arrow rest or the archery bow handle during release.

Many conventional attachments for bow-fishing lines are dangerous and present a significant safety hazard when shooting or discharging an arrow or a crossbow bolt, such as at a fish or other similar game. For example, when an archer shoots or discharges an archery bow with a bow-fishing line tied to the arrow and the arrow travels with high acceleration and high velocity, the bow-fishing line also travels at that same high acceleration and high velocity and it is very important for the bow-fishing line to not tangle. There have been some occurrences where an archer shot or discharged an arrow at a fish and the bow-fishing line got tangled and caused the arrow to travel back at and hit the archer.

There is an apparent need for an improved slide and stop device, particularly one that prevents tangling of the line.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides an improved slide and stop device that can be used with an archery bow or a crossbow. Because of the ability to prevent tangling as a line passes through or is secured to a slide device, an arrow or a bolt can be used for bow hunting activities, particularly bow-fishing activities.

According to some embodiments of this invention, before an arrow is shot or discharged from a bow, a slide is slidably mounted on the arrow shaft. In some embodiments of this invention, the slide is positioned on the arrow shaft in a starting, resting or prelaunch position that is forward of an arrow rest and also between the arrow rest and a point end or a forward end portion of the arrow. The bow-fishing line is tied or otherwise secured to and positioned between the slide and the bow. When shooting or discharging the arrow, the slide moves along the arrow shaft until the slide reaches a stop device attached to the arrow shaft, such as attached at a rearward end or end portion of the arrow shaft. The arrow carries the bow-fishing line and the bow-fishing line stops when the arrow stops at the fish or other target. Because the bow-fishing line is tied or otherwise secured with respect to the arrow shaft, and the stop device is also attached to the arrow shaft, the archer can use the bow-fishing line to retrieve the arrow and the fish or other target.

In some embodiments of this invention, the line is passed or routed through a bore within the slide and the bore is sized and shaped to allow the line to be secured to, be guided through, to flow through or to pass freely through the bore. It is possible for one end of the line to be tied or otherwise fixed or secured to a shaft, such as an arrow shaft or a bolt shaft of a crossbow, and for the other end of the line to be tied or otherwise fixed or secured to an archery bow or a crossbow. As an arrow or crossbow bolt is discharged from the bow or the crossbow, the line can be secured to or freely routed through the bore of the slide and thus allows the line to stay or remain tied to both the shaft and the archery bow or the crossbow.

In some embodiments according to this invention, a method for allowing the line to move along the shaft includes movably mounting the slide on an outer surface of the shaft and positioning the line within the bore of the slide. In some embodiments of this invention, the line is moved with respect to the shaft. A stop can be used to prevent the slide from releasing or dismounting from or with respect to the shaft.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and elements of this invention are better understood when the following specification is taken in view of the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a slide and a stop apparatus, showing a portion of an arrow shaft, according to one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective cross-sectional view of the slide and the stop apparatus, as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a slide and a stop apparatus, showing a portion of an arrow shaft, according to one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a slide and a stop apparatus, showing a portion of an arrow shaft, according to one embodiment of this invention; and

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a slide and a stop apparatus, showing a portion of an arrow shaft, according to another embodiment of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 show slide and stop device or apparatus 10, according to one embodiment of this invention, and FIGS. 3-5 show slide and stop device 10, according to other embodiments of this invention. As shown in FIGS. 1-5, slide 20 is mounted on and/or movable in a generally linear direction along shaft 14, for example, in a direction along a longitudinal axis of shaft 14. Shaft 14 can be an arrow shaft or a crossbow bolt, for example. In some embodiments of this invention, slide 20 can be moved into a position on shaft 14 and line 12 can be secured, attached, fixed and/or otherwise held in a desired position on or with respect to slide 20. According to some embodiments of this invention, stop 30 is secured, attached, fixed and/or otherwise held in a desired position on or with respect to shaft 14, such as at or near an end or an end portion of shaft 14. Stop 30 can be used to prevent slide 20 from dismounting or releasing from or with respect to shaft 14.

In some embodiments of this invention, slide 20 is movably mounted on or with respect to outer surface 15 of shaft 14. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, body 22 of slide 20 forms bore 24 which is sized and shaped to accommodate shaft 14 or to allow body 22 of slide 20 to move with respect to shaft 14. Most conventional arrows have a circular cross-section with a circular outer peripheral surface. In some embodiments of this invention, bore 24 is sized to accommodate or position shaft 14 within bore 24. In some embodiments of this invention, slide 20 is movably mounted on or with respect to shaft 14 and can be moved into a desired or particular position, such as a starting or prelaunch position of shaft 14. In some embodiments of this invention, slide 20 can be secured, fixed, attached and/or otherwise held in place or position so that there is no movement or relatively little movement of slide 20 with respect to shaft 14. In some embodiments of this invention, slide 20 is releasably secured in a fixed or secured position along shaft 14.

In some embodiments of this invention, before an arrow or crossbow bolt is shot or discharged from a bow, slide 20 is movably and/or slidably mounted on or with respect to shaft 14. In some embodiments of this invention, initially or prior to shooting, slide 20 is positioned on shaft 14 in a starting position, a resting position and/or a prelaunch position that is located forward of an arrow rest that is attached to the archery bow, and slide 20 is also positioned between the arrow rest and a point end or end portion of shaft 14. In some embodiments of this invention, one end of line 12 is tied or otherwise attached to, secured to and/or fixed in position to slide 20. According to some embodiments of this invention, line 12 is routed through bore 23 of body 22 and tied or otherwise secured with respect to body 22. In some embodiments of this invention, the opposite end or other end of line 12 is tied or otherwise secured with respect to the bow. In some embodiments of this invention, line 12 is positioned between slide 20 and the bow. When shooting or discharging shaft 14 of the arrow, slide 20 travels and/or otherwise moves along shaft 14 until slide 20 reaches or travels to stop 30 and/or another suitable stop device which is attached and/or otherwise secured to shaft 14. In some embodiments of this invention, stop 30 is secured or attached at a rearward end or an end portion of shaft 14. The arrow carries line 12 as the arrow travels with a relatively high velocity and line 12 stops when the arrow stops at a fish or other target. In some embodiments of this invention, line 12 is tied or otherwise secured to or with respect to shaft 14, and stop 30 is also attached to shaft 14, and the archer can draw or reel line 12 to retrieve the fish or other target material.

In some embodiments of this invention, to accomplish the movable and securable features of slide 20 with respect to shaft 14, body 22 has guides 26 and passages 25. In other embodiments of this invention, body 22 has ribs, ridges, knurls, bumps and/or any other suitable structure or device that creates structural support and/or frictional resistance between slide 20 and shaft 14. Guides 26 can be sized and/or shaped to contact or make contact with outer surface 15 of shaft 14 and thus create structural support and/or frictional resistance between body 22 and outer surface 15. The frictional resistance between body 22 and outer surface 15 can be varied, design and/or selected to provide more or less resistance between slide 20 and shaft 14, particularly as slide 20 moves or attempts to move with respect to shaft 14. Passages 25 can be sized and/or shaped to allow debris or other foreign materials, such as dirt and/or sand, to pass through body 22 near outer surface 15. These embodiments can be used to prevent slide 20 from binding or stopping movement with respect to shaft 14. In other embodiments according to this invention, a set screw, a pin, a lock and/or any other suitable device can be used to secure or hold a relative position of slide 20 with respect to shaft 14.

In some embodiments of this invention, such as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, body 22 of slide 20 comprises, includes or has bore 23 passing through body 22. In some embodiments of this invention, bore 23 is designed, sized and/or shaped to accommodate shaft 14, for example, so that shaft 14 can be mounted within or pass through slide 20 and provide or allow movement of slide 20 with respect to shaft 14. In some embodiments of this invention, bore 23 is a through bore or other suitable void that allows line 12 to pass through slide 20, for example, when an arrow is discharged from an archery bow.

In some embodiments of this invention, stop 30 is secured, attached, fixed and/or held in position with respect to shaft 14 in any suitable manner. For example, stop 30 can form a press fit with shaft 14, such as an end portion of shaft 14. In other embodiments of this invention, stop 30 can have a screwed connection, an adhesive connection and/or any other suitable connection for fixing a position of stop 30 with respect to shaft 14.

In some embodiments of this invention, stop 30 comprises projection 32 that prevents slide 20 from sliding off of, disengaging with and/or dismounting from shaft 14, for example, to form an interference fit or position to contact and prevent dismounting movement of slide 20 from shaft 14. Stop 30 can have any other suitable number of projections 32. In some embodiments of this invention, projection 32 extends beyond or past outer surface 15 of shaft 14. In some embodiments of this invention, projection 32 is designed, sized, shaped and/or positioned to prevent slide 20 from dismounting from shaft 14 or otherwise releasing from shaft 14. Projection 32 can have any suitable shape and/or size.

According to some embodiments of this invention, such as shown in FIG. 1, stop 30 is positioned between shaft 14 and nock 17. In some embodiments of this invention, nock 17 is an archery nock that is used to hold or position a bow string, for example.

FIGS. 3-5 show different ways of securing and/or routing line 12 to or through bore 23 and bore 23 is sized and shaped to allow line 12 to be secured to slide 20 and/or to flow through or pass freely through bore 23, in any direction. In some embodiments of this invention, one end of line 12 is tied or otherwise fixed or secured to slide 20 and/or shaft 14 and the other end of line 12 is tied or otherwise fixed or secured to an archery bow or a crossbow. Nock 17 can accommodate a string of an archery bow or a crossbow. As an arrow or crossbow bolt is discharged from the bow or crossbow, line 12 is secured or tied to both slide 20 and the archery bow or crossbow.

In some embodiments according to this invention, a method for allowing line 12 to move along shaft 14 includes movably mounting slide 20 on outer surface 15 of shaft 14 and securing or positioning line 12 within bore 23 of slide 20. In some embodiments of this invention, line 12 is moved with respect to shaft 14. Stop 30 can be used to prevent dismounting of slide 20 from or with respect to shaft 14.

According to some embodiments of this invention, slide 20 is releasably secured in a desired or fixed position along shaft 14. In such embodiments, it is possible to move slide 20 into the desired or fixed position and then allow the friction between slide 20 and shaft 14 to hold a relative position of slide 20, such as during prelaunch. In other embodiments of this invention, slide 20 can be held in the desired or fixed position along shaft 14 by using a set screw, a pin, a rod and/or any other suitable securing device to hold or retain slide 20 in the desired or fixed position along shaft 14.

In some embodiments of this invention, stop 30, for example with projection 32, is used to prevent slide 20 from dismounting from or being removed from shaft 14. It is possible for projection 32 to extend beyond outer surface 15 of shaft 14 and thus hold or retain slide 20 in a mounted position on or with respect to shaft 14.

While in the foregoing detailed description this invention has been described in relation to certain preferred embodiments thereof, and many details have been set forth for purposes of illustration, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that this invention is susceptible to additional embodiments and that certain of the details described herein can be varied considerably without departing from the basic principles of this invention. 

1. An apparatus for guiding a line moving with respect to a shaft, the apparatus comprising: a slide movably mounted on an outer surface of the shaft, a body of the slide having a bore passing through the body, the bore having a longitudinal axis parallel with the shaft; and a stop secured to the shaft, and the stop forming a projection that prevents the slide from dismounting from the shaft.
 2. (canceled)
 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the slide has a body bore sized to accommodate the shaft, the body bore including a body bore longitudinal axis parallel with the longitudinal axis of the bore.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the body has a plurality of passages formed between a plurality of guides, and the passages extend along the entire body.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bore forms a void through the body and the line fits within the bore.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the stop forms a press fit with an end of the shaft, and the projection extends radially outward relative to the outer surface of the shaft.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the projection extends perpendicular with respect to a longitudinal axis of the shaft to prevent the slide from dismounting from the shaft.
 8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the projection includes a face surface extending perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the shaft and beyond the outer surface of the shaft.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the stop comprises a nock that accepts a bow string, and the projection is positioned between the shaft and the nock.
 10. An apparatus for allowing a line to move with respect to a shaft, the apparatus comprising: a slide mounted on an outer surface of the shaft, a body of the slide having a through bore, the through bore having a longitudinal axis parallel with the shaft; and a stop having a fixed position with respect to the shaft abutting an end of the outer surface, and the stop including a forward face surface preventing the slide from dismounting from the shaft.
 11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the slide is movably and releasably secured in a fixed position along the shaft.
 12. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the body has a plurality of passages formed between a plurality of guides, and the passages extend along the entire body.
 13. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the stop comprises a projection that extends beyond the outer surface of the shaft, the projection including the forward face surface and angled from the forward face surface to a nock.
 14. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the stop forms a projection. 15-20. (canceled)
 21. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the stop comprises an integrated nock that accepts a bow string.
 22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the stop slopes from the forward face surface toward the nock.
 23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the forward face surface extends perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the shaft.
 24. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the forward face surface is disposed parallel to an end surface of the slide.
 25. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the stop comprises an integrated nock that accepts a bow string.
 26. An apparatus for allowing a line to move with respect to a shaft, the apparatus comprising: a slide mountable on an outer surface of the shaft, a body of the slide having a through bore; and a nock that accepts a bow string and configured to attach onto an end portion of shaft, the nock including an integrated stop configured to be in a fixed position with respect to the end of the shaft, and the stop including a surface extending above the outer surface and facing the shaft and preventing the slide from dismounting from the shaft.
 27. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the forward face surface extends radially outward relative to the outer surface of the shaft perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the shaft, and the stop slopes from the forward face surface in a direction toward the nock. 